About MIKE KUCENSKI
In addition to being the lyricist of the Kucenski & Voogt Songwriting Team, Mike is a Drummer, Sound Engineer, Script Writer , A/V Creator and Producer, and Founding Member of Praises Unlimited!
Mike’s Father was an LCMS Minister and his Mom a piano player and lifetime fan of singing in the church choir and along with her musical family of 8 children.
At 8 years old, Mike’s Mom forced him into 2 years of piano lessons. He hated every minute of it, especially piano recitals. By age 9, Mike became very involved working with his Father in the areas of sound and lighting engineering, along with production staging and audio visual technoiogies and presentations. For the next few years, Mike began experimenting with various musical instruments including, trumpet, saxaphone, violin, accordian and guitar. In 1969 at the age of 13, Mike settled on playing guitar and in 1970, along with his sister Sharon, who also played guitar, began leading Christian folk worship in the church where their Dad was Pastor. Mike began playing drums at 16 and by 17 he was playing drums for contemporary worship on a regular basis.
After marrying Diane, a professionally trained vocalist, in 1976 the couple moved to California in 1981 and spent the next 10 years focused on raising their children.
In 1992, both Mike and Diane became founding members of Praises Unlimited, leading Contemporary Worship at Our Saviors’ First Lutheran Church in Granada Hills, California. 11 years later, Praises Unlimited was called to lead worship at Canoga Park Lutheran Church in Canoga Park, California and did so for approximately 6 years. During these 16 years, Mike continued to play drums, and trained his two sons in the art of video presentation and sound engineering.
In 1997, Mike and his soon to be best friend Perry Voogt (who joined Praises Unlimited in 1996) who is an accomplished vocalist and pianist/keyboard player began writing Christian Music together. Over the years they have written over 40 songs including a completely original Christmas Musical Worship program.
About PERRY VOOGT
In addition to being the musical composer/arranger of the Kucenski & Voogt Songwriting Team, Perry is our keyboard player and lead vocalist who can pretty much sing whatever needs to be sung. Tenor, Bass, Alto, Soprano, you never know where he’s going to turn up!
Perry began piano lessons in 1968 when he was 7, training to be a classical pianist. At 12 years old he toured briefly with Bob Ralston of the Lawrence Welk orchestra. Since the early 1970’s Perry served as a chanter and worship leader at his church. He was very active in musical theatre during his high school years and had his own rock and roll garage band, Southbound.
Perry joined Praises Unlimited in 1996 initially as a vocal artist, but subsequently he became the Keyboard player as well. In 1997, Perry collaberated with Mike on their first composition titled ” Joseph’s Song” which was a Christmas song about the night Christ was born from the perspective of Joseph. It also asks the listeners the question, that during the Christmas Season: “Are you focusing on Heaven, or staring down at Earth?” Thus, a great friendship and songwriting team was formed!